Peer Review Process

Explorations in English Learning (EXEL) upholds a commitment to academic excellence by applying a rigorous and ethical peer review process. This process ensures that all submissions meet scholarly standards and contribute meaningfully to English language education.

1. Manuscript Submission

Authors are required to submit manuscripts through the journal’s online submission platform. Before editorial assessment, all submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software to ensure originality and compliance with ethical publishing practices. Manuscripts must follow EXEL’s formatting and authorship guidelines.

2. Editorial Screening

Upon submission, the editorial team conducts an initial review to assess the manuscript’s relevance to the journal’s focus, overall academic quality, ethical compliance (including AI tool disclosure, if applicable), and adherence to submission guidelines. Manuscripts that do not meet these baseline criteria may be rejected at this stage (desk rejection), and authors will be informed of the decision and general reasons for rejection.

3. Peer Review Process

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are forwarded for double-blind peer review, where both the authors’ and reviewers’ identities are concealed to maintain objectivity. At least two independent reviewers with subject-matter expertise are invited to evaluate the manuscript. Selection is based on academic background, publication record, and reviewing experience.

Reviewers assess the submission based on:

  • Originality and contribution to the field

  • Soundness and clarity of research methodology

  • Coherence and significance of findings

  • Quality of academic writing and structure

  • Ethical compliance and transparency

Each reviewer submits detailed comments and recommends one of the following decisions:
(a) Accept as is
(b) Minor revisions required
(c) Major revisions required
(d) Reject

4. Revision and Response

If revisions are requested, authors are invited to revise the manuscript and submit a point-by-point response detailing how each reviewer's comment has been addressed. Depending on the extent of the revisions, revised submissions are reviewed either by the original reviewers or the editorial team. This process may be iterative until the paper meets the required standards.

5. Editorial Decision

The editor-in-chief makes the final decision—acceptance, conditional acceptance, or rejection—based on the reviewers’ evaluations and the quality of the revised manuscript. Authors receive a formal decision letter along with anonymised reviewer feedback.

6. Production and Finalisation

Accepted papers undergo professional copyediting, layout formatting, and proofreading. Authors are allowed to review and approve the final proofs. Once finalised, the article is scheduled for publication in the next available issue and made accessible online.

7. Commitment to Peer Review Integrity

EXEL continuously strives to improve the quality and fairness of its review process by incorporating feedback from authors, reviewers, and editorial board members. The journal adheres to internationally recognised best practices in academic publishing and peer review ethics, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and scholarly impact.